Indian-Ocean: SRI LANKA - Wholesale Traders Strike
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Sri Lanka Wholesale Traders Strike Due to Slow Customs Clearance at Port
Sri Lanka traders of essential commodities went on strike today (14 March) to protest the slow customs clearance of perishable food items at the port of Colombo. The Pettah Traders Association (PTA) claims that additional security measures adopted by the Government last week involving Sri Lanka Military inspection of cargo in addition to the normal customs inspections is to blame. PTA points out that the number of cargo containers cleared per day has fallen to around 30 containers as opposed to 400-600 units cleared in one day before the new rule was imposed. They call for a system to expedite the clearance of cargo, which at the same time would ensure security, since much of the imported food items had perished after the imposition of the new regulation. According to the PTA 60-150 containers have perished since the new regulation took effect and six hundred more containers are awaiting clearance.
UNJLC representative at the Bandaranaike International Airport reported that customs official had expressed sympathy with the trader’s cause by delaying work today. Similar stories are reported from the Colombo Port but are not confirmed. 250 containers of humanitarian relief cargo have accumulated at the Colombo Port awaiting clearance
